John s



(No Model.)

J. S, GHEBN. FILE CASE;

No. 290,570. Patentd Dec. 18,1883.

; UNITED STATES;

PATE T- Erica.

JOHA S. GHEEN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR TO MILETUS J. WINE, OF SAME PLACE.

FILE-CASE.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,570, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed June 5, 1883. (X model.)

fi o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J onn S. GREEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in File-Gases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it ap- Io pertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to cases and paperholders for properly asserting and arranging documents and files and the like in public and private offices.

I 5 One of the objects of thisinvention is to apply my improvements to the old style of cases in use,whereby file-holders of the Doremus and Duryee classes may be used in oldstyle cases without much alteration and cost attending the change. In the introduction of this modern class of office furniture some objection has been made by parties having the old style ofcases, which consists of a base, top, side pieces, and horizontal shelves, on the 2 5 ground that they do not wish to throw away their present case and buy a new style; therefore the present improvements aredesigned, among other objects, to meet this class of the trade, so that the improvements can be snc 3o oessfully applied to the class hereinbefore referred to.

My invention therefore consists in an improved guideplate for a paper-holder case, consisting of a longitudinal body provided 3 5 with a flange or flanges extended at right augles from the side and for the length thereof, and terminating in a curved end or hook, as hereinafter set forth.

My invention further consists in a file-holder having loosely journaled to its bottomatrans verse shaft formed with bent ends, in combi nation with guide-plates fixed to the surface of the shelf, and formed with flanges and end hooks, for the purpose stated hereinafter.

My invention further consists of the novel construction and combination of parts, as will I be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a case, showing one file 5o removed, one withdrawn and suspended, and

one in its cell, and the guide-plate on the shelf. Fig. 2 is a side viewof the guide-plate, and cross-section also; and Fig. 3 is aview of the transverse shaft and means for attaching the same;

' In the annexed drawings, A represents the case, composed, essentially, of the bottom, top, sides, and the horizontal shelves.

To the upper surface of the horizontal shelves B, at suitable distances apart, are attached, by suitable means, guide-plates C. These guide-plates are preferably made of meta], although they may be made of other suit-able or noiseless material, and each is formed (see Fig. 2) with side flanges, a, located about midway as to the height, and terminating at the front end in the curved portion 6, to form a rounded or curved recess, 0; but the guide-pieces arranged at the ends next to the side pieces are formed with only one flange, and that on the side unobstructed.

These guide-pieces are arranged upon the shelves so that the front ends shall slightly project beyond the face or edge of the shelf, and the lower edge of the flange 0 shall abut 7 5 against the edge of the shelf, substantially as shown.

. The letter D represents apaper-holder,made of a size to work between the guide plates and between adjoining boxes or paper-holders,and of a height corresponding to the space between the shelves. This paper-holder may be of the Duryee, Doremus, or of any other class.

- To the bottom of the paper-holder, about midway thereof, is attached two suitable jour- 8 5 nal-bearings, d, carrying a transverse bar or shaft, 6. The outer ends of this transverse bar are slightly bent or curved, so as to make an easy and quick connection with the inner open ends of the guide-plates, and the bar is 0 arranged at such a point on the bottom of the paper-holder that when the holder is thrust in its full length the ends of the shaft or bar .drop behind the bars, and when drawn forward enter below the flanges and instantly en- 5 gage with the side grooves of the guide-plates at the moment the paper-holder is withdrawn,

and so that when the paper-h older is withdrawn the ends of the shaft will come in contact with the curved portion at the ends of the guide-plates, and by tilting the file-holder the shaft is caused to slightly turn on its axis and conform to the tilting movement of the holder, and suspend the file'holder in a vertical position, in which position the box is sustained from displacement in either direction. The transverse bar, as stated, is arranged and secured in its journal, on the bottom of the box, so that when the paper-holder is thrust entirely home the ends of the bar or shaft clear the end of the guide-plate, in order that when it .is desired to lift the paperholder from the case all that is necessary is to slightly tilt it before commencing to withdraw it, and then lift it from its place. The transverse bar or shaft is not necessarily made longer than the width of the bottom to which it is journaled, but is preferably made of the same length as the width of the bottom, and so as to accurately and smoothly operate under the flanges and between the plates.

There being no necessity of vertical partitions in the. application of my improvements, and their employment being one of the things obviated by my invention, therefore, to maintain a continuous and shapely arrangement of the fronts of the paper-holders, I make the fronts wide enough to cover whatever space may exist between the inner construction of the paper-holders, and thus bring the edges of the fronts to fit against each other, substantially as shown; and, further, to permit the paper-holder to be arranged and adjusted in place without obstruction by reason of the extension or projection of the end of the guide-plates over the edge of the shelf, I cut away the inner side of the end projection of the fronts, as seen at f, to fit over the end of the guide-plate, and thus bring the faces of the fronts on a line with each other.

To insert a paper-holder in the case, the person need only place it between the shelves and push it in until the ends of the crossbar or. shaft drop below the flanges of the guideplates and in rear of them, when the front assumes avertical position and the file is in place. To withdraw and tilt the paper-holder, the person draws it outward until the ends of the cross-bar are stopped by the ends of the guideways, when the holder may be tilted and remain suspended. If it be desired to entirely withdraw the paper-holder, it maybe readily accomplishedbysimplytiltingitbeforepulling it forward, which movement will lift the ends of the transverse bar above the end of the guide-plate, and then by pulling the holder I forward it can be withdrawn.

ends, forming recesses, and adapted to be attached to the shelf of a case.

2. A file-holder having loosely journaled to its bottom a transverse shaft formed with bent ends, in combination with guide-plates fixed to the surface of a shelf, and formed with flanges and end hooks adapted to retain the ends of the transverse shaft, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a case having one or more horizontal shelves, guide-plates formed with flanges downwardly curved at their front ends and attached to the upper surface of the shelves, and a plurality of paper-holders having attached to their bottoms means for retaining them in engagement with the under side of the flanges of the guide-plates, sub-' substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. GHEEN. \Vitnesses:

W. O. DUVALL, Enw. T. PRITOHARD. 

